________________
Walk With Me
I said "Certainly dear Achalbhrat, I will be more than pleased to answer your query to the best of my ability. What is on your mind?"
Achalbhrat continued, "How fortunate of Sadhvi Mrigavati that she achieved liberation in such a short time. Such a feat is not only surprising, but also almost impossible! How did she achieve this? Who was she before joining our sangh?"
I knew Mrigavati's background and decided to tell her story. "Achalbhrat, Mrigavati was the Queen of Vatsa. Progress and conflict had always gone hand in hand in Vatsa and Mrigavati had seen it all from the capital city of Kaushambi. Her sister Dharini was the queen of the kingdom of Anga, and the two kings, Dadhivahan of Anga, and Shatanik of Vatsa, had supposedly trusted each other. Yet, Shatanik sensed that Anga was ill-prepared for defense, and launched a surprise attack on the kingdom. Dadhivahan escaped, but Dharini committed suicide and her daughter, Vasumati, was abducted and sold as a slave."
Political life knows no relatives, or loyalties; only opportunities. Opportunists could care less about the suffering and pain inflicted on the people by their machinations.
Achalbhrat intervened, "Did it not bother Shatanik that he had destroyed his wife's family?"
-
I continued, "Political life knows no relatives or loyalties - only opportunities. A brother may turn against his brother, a son against his father, and a friend against his friend if it is opportune to do so. Archenemies readily become friends if there is something to be gained by such union. Such opportunists could care less about the suffering and pain
100
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
